The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 72, No. 1, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 4, 1984 Page: 1 of 10
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MERCEDES MEMORIAL LIBRART
434 SOUTH OHIO -
DES, TEXAS 7857g /
fhe Merci
terpris
Mercedes, Texas 78570 Wednesday, January 4, 1984
Volume 72
Number 1
Price 20c
Church to celebrate 7Sth anniversary
Presbyterians began worship here January 5,1909 in private home
Members and friends of the First
Presbyterian Church of Mercedes will
mark the church’s 75th anniversary this
Sunday in a special worship service to
be followed by a covered-dish dinner.
The celebration to mark the
founding of the church on January 5,
1909 (in the home of Judge S.P. Silver
on South Missouri Avenue, presently
owned by Adan Cantu), will begin with
Sunday School for children and adults
at 10 a.m., with Rev. Gene Horne,
former pastor, to teach the adult class
in the church parlor.
Worship begins at 11:10 a.m., to be
preceded by a period of meditation and
prayer with Stan Kendell providing
music at the organ.
During the service of worship, the
same hymns will be used
as those sung at the first
service, 75 years ago. Rev.
Mike Murray, another
former pastor, will preach
a sermon on Revelation
1:1-20, entitled “The
Region of Mission Presbytery, will
bring greetings, as well as receiving,
on behalf of the Presbytery, a check for
the outstanding balance owed on the
church building.
Also to be in attendance will be a
delegation from El Principe de Paz
Presbyterian Church of Mercedes, who
will bring greetings from the
congregation of that church.
Jim Penn will sing an offertory solo,
“The 93rd Psalm,” and the choir will
sing an anthem, “God in Nature,”
which was used when the present
church facility was dedicated in 1970.
Rev. Vicky Jones, co-pastor, will bring
the children’s sermon, and Rev. Horne
will lead in the pastoral prayer.
Following worship, there will be a
Economic news better
in '83...until the freeze
Church,” using the same
text and sermon title as
used by Rev. M.W.
Doggett, evangelist of the &
Presbytery of West Texas, a
when he preached the first
sermon for the new
church. •
Ms. Amadita Muniz, €
associate general presby-
teer for the Valley
covered-dish fellowship dinner, to
which all in attendance are invited,
says Rev. Casey Jones, church
co-pastor. “During this time, there will
be reminiscing, looking at old pictures
we’ll have on display, and a dance
presentation by Miss Ursula Ortega. A
history of the church, including
photographs, will be distributed to all
present, and commemorative plates and
note cards will be- available for
purchase,” the pastor says.
Theme of the celebration, Rev.
Jones continues, “can best be summed
up in the words of the hymn by Isaac
Watts, which will be sung in the
service: ‘O God, our help in ages past,
our hope in years to come.’ It is the
hope of the congregation that this
celebration will bring glory
to God, who has been our
shield and defender in the
past, sustaining us in all
things, so that we have
confidence in whatever
future he has prepared for
us.”
Once again, as we do each year end,
we’ve reviewed issues of The Enterprise
from the past 12 months, scanning
headlines for the stories of greatest
significance to Mercedes and her people.
Though most Mercedes news in 1983
was good, we didn’t have to look too far
back for what was probably the biggest
story -- and probably the worst news.
That was the record-setting freeze of 10
days back.
We’ve compiled a listing here of 10
of the “top” stories, a list certainly not
meant to be all-inclusive. Readers are
invited to reflect on local events of the
past year and add to or subtract from
this outline.
CHRISTMAS FREEZE
Setting
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF MERCEDES
...a congregation since 1909.
All are invited to
attend, he concludes.
“Come join us as we give
thanks to God for the past,
and as we hope in the
future He has in store for
us. If you cannot join us,
we would appreciate your
remembering us in your
prayers.”
records for lowest temperatures on
December 24 and 25 and approaching
records for duration of below-freezing
temperatures (at 53 hours), an arctic cold
front visited South Texas and Mercedes
after tearing across the northern states.
Lowest temperatures -- officially 18
degrees Fahrenheit, but unofficially as
low as 15 in Mercedes -- came on
Christmas morning. Impact of the freeze,
however, will be long felt, as the Texas
citrus industry sustained losses now
estimated at over $30 million dollars,
wiping out the fresh fruit market and
leaving thousands of Valley produce
. workers idle.
Losses to other crops, as well as to
I flowerbeds and stands of ornamental
plants, were equally severe, and even
those without agricultural interests fared
I none too well. Many residents awoke to
frozen or broken plumbing and water
I heaters, not to mention finding problems
Commission makes appointments
to corporation board, accepts bids
City commissioners dealt Tuesday
with appointments and the purchase of
fire department radios, but tabled items
on the municipal judgeship and
participation in litigation concerning
disposal of Mercedes’ garbage.
Vacancies on the board of the
Development Corporation of Mercedes
were filled by the re-appointment of
Maj. Gen. Jamie Gough (USAF-ret.),
and the naming of Mrs. Yolanda Garcia
to the seat formerly held by Jimmy
Lauderdale. Mr. Lauderdale had
declined re-appointment to the body,
which has as its primary function the
issuance of industrial revenue bonds to
finance local commercial developments.
A second appointment, that of
municipal judge, was postponed until an
RVs worth $ 1 million
to be on display
Mercedes will be the scene of the
1984 Valley Recreational Vehicle Show
on January 19-20-21, announced Mrs.
Jack Byers, co-chairperson of the event
Tuesday.
Sponsored by the Rio Grande Valley
Chapter of the Texas RV Association, the
show will be open to the public at the
Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show-
grounds from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. each
of the three days.
Over $1 million in Rvs will be on
display, says Mrs. Byers.
Admission is $1 per person.
emergency meeting scheduled for
January 10 at the request of Mayor
Gilberto Dominguez, who asked that the
matter be considered in an executive
session, since, he said, "It is, in the
final analysis, a personnel matter.”
Currently holding the post is Ramon
Vela of Weslaco, whose contract expires
in early January.
Lower bidder Rio Radio Supply
Company was awarded the contract for
purchase of three radios for fire
department vehicles after offering the
eight-channel capable units for a total
price of $2,175. The Claude Wright firm
of Houston was only bidder on five radio
monitors for home use by firemen,
offering that equipment for a total of
$995. That bid was accepted, as well.
The officials tabled consideration of a
resolution -- apparently because the
resolution itself had yet to be delivered
to the city by the attorneys composing
the document for the City of Weslaco --
that would “authorize a steering
committee to effect litigation concerning
solid waste disposal.” Mercedes’
garbage has been dumped at the
Harlingen city dump as a temporary
measure since the early December
closing of the landfill formerly used.
City staff members were authorized
to advertise for services of an
engineering firm, needed to study water
line and sewer plant improvements to be
done as part of a grant-funded project to
expand facilities at H&H Meat Products
Company. There were also authorized to
advertise for bids on oil, gasoline and
diesel fuel purchases for the coming
year.
In addition to the special meeting
next week, commissioners-will conduct a
workshop on the city’s ambulance
contract, it was announced at the
meeting. The officials were also told that
local volunteer firemen will host the
district meeting of fire officials this
Sunday at the Civic Center.
IN THE WAKE OF FREEZING
TEMPERATURES over the past two
weeks, vegetation around Mercedes
has taken on the blighted appearance
of the plants shown above. Though
the weather brought one more freeze
since the frigid Christmas holiday,
most delicate foliage had already
succumbed to the cold. [Mercedes
Enterprise Photo.]
Former school
Chamber will host shrimp boil
Annual banquet festivities of the
Mercedes Chamber of Commerce will
take the form this year of a shrimp boil,
scheduled for Friday, January 27.
Highlights of the affair will be the
naming of the “Man of the Year,”
“Woman of the Year,” “Couple of the
Year” and “Yard of the Year,” as well
as recognition of other community
members for efforts toward civic
advancement, says a Chamber spokes-
man.
To begin at 7 p.m. at the Mercedes
Civic Center, the banquet will feature as
fare boiled shrimp and trimmings, with
tickets available for $20 per couple from
the Chamber office or any director.
The affair will follow a Hawaiian
theme, though entertainment details are
yet to be finalized.
official buried
Rodolfo Gonzalez, school superin-
tendent in Mercedes from August 1978
until June 1980, died December 30 at the
family ranch in Live Oak County in South
Texas.
Services were January 1 at George
West with burial at the Gonzalez Ranch.
Mr. Gonzalez, a Harlingen native,
held a BS degree from the University of
Texas and a MS in Education from
Indiana State University. He had taught
school and coached in both Indiana and
Illinois before returning to Texas to join
the Robstown School District as an
assistant principal. He was an assistant
superintendent of that district before
coming to Mercedes and, at the time of
his death, was superintendent of the
Odem School District, a post he had held
since leaving Mercedes.
Survivors include his wife, Norma
Jean; two sons, David of Lake Jackson
and Frank of Louisville, Kentucky; four
brothers, one sister and one grandchild.
He was a veteran of the United
States Air Force and a member of the
Presbyterian Church.
with car engines and the like.
Altogether, the freeze proved appropri-
ate for the Christmas season, but not at
all appropriate for South Texas.
JULY’S RAINSTORM -- The weather
brought more bad news in 1983. A major
rainstorm in mid-July struck savagely at
eastern Hidalgo County and western
Cameron County, leaving Mercedes, La
Feria and Santa Rosa with extensive
flood damage, as storm drainage
systems simply could not keep’ up with
the downpour. Official Figures show
nearly 7.5 inches of rain fell in a
three-hour period during the dawn hours
of July 15.
City officials applied for -- and
received -- status as a “disaster
community,” gaining eligibility for state
and federal relief in the form of
low-interest loans. Those needing the
assistance included some 50 Mercedes
families whose homes were damaged by
high water.
GROWTH AT H&H - The year
brought economic gains to the
community, as well, including a major
expansion project at H&H Meat Products
Company that will provide for some 127
additional jobs at the city’s largest
industry.
To be funded through the issuance of
industrial revenue bonds and a $628,000
Urban Development Action Grant from
the Department of Housing and Urban
Development, the project will see a $1.2
million “regional meat distribution
center” constructed just east of the
present plant site.
More good news for the H&H firm
came in October, when national honors
went to firm President Liborio Hinojosa
as “Minority Entrepreneur of the Year,”
and to the firm itself for “Minority
Enterprise Development Award.”
[Continued to Page 6.]
Seen ‘n Heard
In Mercedes...
- It only works on a small
scale, but results are guaranteed.
It’s a proven method of
preventing freeze or frost damage
to citrus trees. We know it works.
We invented it and we stand
behind, the results.
Next time there’s a freeze
warning and you have a small
lemon or lime tree (probably works
equally well on small orange or
grapefruit trees), use our method
to save the tree.
First get four stakes, slightly
longer than the height of the tree
to be saved from freeze damage.
Place them in the ground at the
four corners of the tree, leaving
tops several inches above the tree.
Place a plastic screen around the
stakes and over the top to
completely cover the tree and to
protect it from the oncoming cold.
Most people would stop there,
but this is an improved system of
freeze protection.
Next take an aluminum pan, the
kind that certain pies have as
packaging. Light three or four
charcoal briquets, let burn to a
fiery red, place in pan and put pan
next to tree under covering.
Think a bit about the coming
cold. You’d better go back and add
some more briquets.
Add briquets.
Do it again to be absolutely
certain of protection.
Return to house secure in
knowledge that no freeze will harm
your precious lemon or lime tree.
Next morning (or afternoon if
, it’s been a severe freeze) uncover
your tree and remove completely
burned charcoal.
Next remove dry, shriveled and
scorched leaves.
Pick up blackened fruit (if any)
that has fallen from tree.
Scrape charcoal soot from tree
trunk and remove any badly
scorched bark.
Wait until spring. You’ll be
amazed to see your tree has put on
new leaves.
You’ll be even more amazed
later in the year to see your lemon
or lime tree bearing sour oranges.
As we said in the beginning,
our method is guaranteed to save
any small tree from freeze damage.
We promised nothing more.
* * *
We
asked..
Did you make a new
year's resolution?
If so, what was it
and why is it
important to you?
If not, why not?
HECTOR DOMINGUEZ
...retired businessman
“I didn’t make a
resolution this new year --
I’ve been around Mer-
cedes since 1909 and I’m
too old for that. I never
could keep my resolutions
anyway.”
EDDIE HOWELL
...school counselor
“My new year’s reso-
lution is to exercise and
keep in shape, because I
think that’s important to
my overall health and
well-being.”
GEORGE GRAF
...retired businessman
“I didn’t make any
resolutions this year -- last
year’s didn’t work, so I
figured I wouldn’t even
try.”
MISS YSENIA
ESPIRICUETA
...student
“I didn’t make
SAM RODRIGUEZ
U.S. Army
"I guess you could
MRS. HENRIETTA
NEWMANN
a
“I
...housewife
resolve to
do
resolution, I guess because
I just couldn’t think of one
I could keep.”
say I made a new year’s
resolution. My new year’s everything I can to help
resolution was not to make see peace on earth. This is
any new year’s resolu- my wish for everyone
tions.” everywhere.”
[Photos and interviews by staff member Rene Garza.]
- “Yano Sez” is the official
newsletter of the folks at Llano
Grande Lake Park in Mercedes. A
recent issue asked readers to
translate into plain English a
sentence reading “Individuals who
make their abode in vitreous
edifices are well advised to refrain
from launching petrous projec-
tiles.”
That’s an easy one if you know
anything about glass houses, etc.
But here’s a toughie direct from
the federal government. See if you
can make much sense out of “The
administration determined that the
action group should continue
operation because of the benefits
derived from this concentrated
focus and the potential for
long-term economic development
through partnership between all-
levels of government and the
private sector.”
* * *
- For 37 years people driving
down the Military Highways south
of Mercedes have seen and
admired the red Brahmans of the
Clifford Ranch.
No more. The ranch ended its
years of Brahman production that
brought it international attention
last month when the complete herd
was sold to 25 buyers from four
states.
Seems to be the end of an era
and it makes many more than a
little sad.
* * *
-- There were many who
watched the fireworks display
shortly before and after the
beginning of 1984 in Mercedes. It
was a traditional way to bring in
the new year.
There were also some who had
a less than traditional beginning to
1984.
That red glow in the northern
sky visible to so many Mercedes
folks around midnight Saturday
was something like 30 acres of
sugarcane burning. Nearby ob-
servers say the cane fire began
after a display of fireworks in the
rural area...and they’re certain
what they saw was a cause and
effect relationship.
It all brings to mind a point.
With grasses tinderbox dry
because of the recent freezes,
firemen have been all too busy
fighting grass fires that have been,
for the most part, caused by
human carelessness.
Be safe. Be careful. Let our
overworked volunteer firemen (20
grass-fire calls in three days) get
some badly needed sleep.
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The Mercedes Enterprise (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 72, No. 1, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 4, 1984, newspaper, January 4, 1984; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1632037/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.